NAIROBI, Kenya — Siaya Governor James Orengo has sharply criticised the latest fuel price increases announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, demanding full disclosure of the pricing formula and warning of growing public distrust.
In a strongly worded statement, Orengo accused the regulator of imposing higher petroleum prices without adequate explanation, saying the process lacks transparency and accountability.
“The current economic landscape isn’t just a challenge; it’s a masterclass in gaslighting the Kenyan taxpayer. Yesterday, EPRA didn’t just hike fuel prices; they insulted our collective intelligence,” he said.
EPRA recently announced revised pump prices for the April–May 2026 cycle, with super petrol increasing by Sh28.69 per litre and diesel rising by Sh40.30 per litre, while kerosene prices remained unchanged.
The adjustments are expected to trigger a ripple effect across the economy, particularly in transport and logistics, potentially driving up the cost of essential goods and services.
Orengo, however, questioned the basis of the increments, arguing that the regulator has failed to provide sufficient public justification for the changes.
“We are no longer just fuelling our cars; we are fueling a bloated, detached system where the maths simply refuses to add up because the variables are hidden from the public eye,” he said.
He called on EPRA to immediately publish the full Cost of Service Study used to determine the new pricing structure, saying the phased margin adjustments remain unclear.
“EPRA must immediately publish the full Cost of Service Study and explain the rationale behind these phased margin revisions that are being implemented in total darkness,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with the energy sector, Orengo noted that electricity tariffs in Kenya typically undergo public participation and stakeholder engagement before implementation. He argued that petroleum pricing—given its central role in the economy—should be subjected to similar scrutiny.
“If electricity tariffs require public participation and stakeholder input, then the lifeblood of our transport sector should not be managed behind closed doors,” he added.
The governor further accused regulators of presiding over a system that disadvantages ordinary citizens while benefiting entrenched industry interests. He said administrative price setting risks fuelling inefficiencies and artificial inflation.
“We are being asked to fund a system that has completely forgotten the person on the ground,” he said.
Orengo proposed a shift toward a more liberalised and competitive petroleum market, arguing that increased competition would better protect consumers from unjustified price increases.
“Kenya would be better served by abandoning this opaque pretense and restoring genuine competition to the petroleum market,” he said. “Competitive pricing, rather than centrally determined margins, is the only way to drive efficiency and protect the public.”
He also linked the price hike to rising public frustration over fuel quality concerns, noting recent reports of contaminated or substandard fuel affecting motorists.
“The frustration has reached a boiling point,” he said. “After weeks of motorists playing Russian Roulette with contaminated ‘fake fuel’ and praying their engines wouldn’t knock, our reward for that anxiety is a higher bill at the pump.”
